Focus on oily skin – characteristics, tips & treatments

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Tag Archives: oily skin

In the next in this series of posts focusing on skin types, (see the original post on skin type vs skin condition here), today I will be looking at the particular characteristics of oily skin, how to recognise it and how to treat it.
Oily skin is characterised by open pores, shine and sometimes congestion. It is a result of over active sebaceous glands. While it is often seen in teenage skin it is certainly not limited to younger people. I see a lot of oily skin that presents as red or sensitive, this is a temporary condition that is usually caused by overuse of harsh products aimed at ‘drying up’ oily skin (not possible). The main problem that women with oily skin complain of is that their makeup won’t stay on.

Professional treatments will vary from gentle cleansing and balancing for those who have over treated their skin in the past, through to peels and microneedling for those with thickened skin and/or enlarged pores. A personal comprehensive skin analysis will determine which treatment, if any, is best for you. (Or our distance analysis if you cannot get to us in Wexford).

At home, gentle cleansing is a must. Most people with oily skin tend to rub and scrub too hard and this can lead to MORE oil production and/or other skin damage. For those with oily but clear skin I recommend an oil cleanser (yes!), for those with blemishes maybe a cleanser with salicylic acid.

Don’t be afraid of moisturiser, many oily skin types shy away from moisturiser as they think it will add to oily shine but skipping this step means that water evaporates too quickly through the skin leaving you still oily but also dehydrated A light serum gives the skin nutrition in the morning under SPF30 and can be repeated at night under a light cream. Oily skin will show the signs of ageing slower than others so don’t forget to up your serum game after your mid-thirties to Collagen Serum to keep lines at bay, even if you think you don’t need it yet.

Basic products for oily skin to balance oil production and keep skin healthy:

Salicylic Cleanser to keep pores clear and control shine (not to be used to remove makeup).

Hydrating Cream – lightweight but rich in hyaluronic acid to protect the water content of your skin structure.

For older skin that still has excess oil production I recommend my Overnight Repair Cream which will keep oil production regulated as well as giving outstanding anti-ageing.
For those with blemishes, you will need a personalised recommendation for spot control. Contact us on 053 9145981 to discuss your needs.